Is going to the vet a nightmare? Are you afraid that your dog is going to bite someone? Or maybe you’re just wondering how to teach your horse to walk calmly into a trailer?

I get it. Living with animals – whether they’re pets, farm animals, or zoo critters – comes with its unique challenges. But rest assured – there’s a way forward.

I’m Dr. Karolina Westlund, and my passion is improving the lives of the animals in our care. As an Associate Professor of Ethology, I teach, write, and work to help people understand animal behavior in a way that makes a real difference.

In everything I do, I take a strong stand on ethics: the well-being of the animal is always my top priority. I promote humane, non-coercive and animal-centred approaches that focus on kindness, respect, and positive relationships, rather than control or corrections. I believe in understanding the animal’s needs and emotions to create lasting, animal-friendly solutions that promote trust, happiness, and overall well-being.

 “Karolina Westlund is absolutely formidable. The knowledge she imparts is crucial and will change the way you view your animal, animals in general, yourself and the world.” (Kristin Due Holmegaard)

I’m deeply rooted in ethology, but I believe the best solutions come when we look at animal behavior from all angles. Whether it’s ethology, affective neuroscience, or applied behavior analysis, it’s the mix of different scientific perspectives that really makes the magic happen.

The field of applied ethology has taught me how to enrich animals’ lives – helping them reduce stress, express natural behaviors, and live happier, healthier lives. From reducing stereotypic behaviors in farm animals to creating engaging environments for zoo animals or pets, enrichment is key. But enrichment is not just about keeping animals busy – it’s about helping them thrive.

I’ve also taken a deep dive into the world of animal emotions and affective neuroscience. Understanding the importance of the animal’s underlying mood state has transformed the way I approach behavior management. It’s about prioritizing what truly matters – making sure that the animal feels safe, which is vital for brain development, stress resilience and positive welfare.

When it comes to problem behaviors, I bring in the science of applied behavior analysis. By understanding the root causes of behavior – what triggers it and what maintains it – we can make changes to the environment and find animal-friendly, lasting solutions. Also, this perspective helps us teach animals to be active participants in their own care. We can improve the human-animal relationship and give animals the ability to control important events.

All of this comes together in my approach to behavior management: scientifically grounded but always practical. Whether you’re an animal professional or a dedicated pet owner, you’ll find something relevant to your situation in my blog posts or courses. My work spans pets, zoo animals, farm animals, and even laboratory animals.

By this approach, we can create lasting behavior changes while promoting trust and happiness. It’s not just about modifying behavior – it’s about improving the animal’s life.